Obanikoro congratulates Ambode as Ambode extends hand of partnership to Agbaje, others

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,  Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has

congratulated the Governor-elect, Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, over his victory.

Obanikoro, whose son, Ibrahim, failed to clinch the Eti Osa constituncy 1 seat at the House of Assembly, had on Saturday accused the All Progressives Congress of intense rigging.

However,  the minister on Monday morning congratulated Ambode on his Facebook page.

He said, “I congratulate Akinwunmi Ambode as the governor of Lagos State. “

This is coming as the Lagos State Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has called on the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, and others who contested against him to join hands with his administration to build the state.

Ambode spoke on Sunday while delivering his acceptance speech at the APC secretariat in Lagos shortly after he was declared winner of the governorship election.

Ambode was announced winner of the Saturday election after securing 811,994 votes against his PDP’s closest rival, Agbaje who scored 659,788 votes.

“To my main opponent, Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the PDP, I thank you for a keen contest and invite you, alongside other governorship candidates, to join hands with me in moving Lagos forward,” he said.

Ambode also promised Lagos residents  that his administration would build on the legacy and achievements of his predecessors, Gov. Babatunde Fashola and Chief Bola Tinubu.

“I am humbled that you have placed your trust and faith in me.

“The love of this state and our common belief in what we can accomplish, our belief in what this state already is, and in what it is destined to become binds us together in a social and moral contract of high purpose.

“I shall honour that contract with every fiber of my being.

“This day I pledge to you that I shall devote myself to bringing even greater prosperity, growth and development to every inch of this state.

“I also pledge that I shall build on legacy and progress of my predecessors,” Ambode said.

The governor-elect promised to bring the best of ‎Lagos into his government saying that the people would be proud and glad for choosing him as their governor.

“The people of Lagos have demonstrated that Lagos is not about ethnicity or religion but about a common desire to enthrone good ‎governance.

“Lagos under my watch will not discriminate. It has not in the past, and will not in the present; not even in the future, there will be no political victimisation.

“By affirming your faith in the APC and in me, you have, for the first time in 16 years, married progressive governance at the national level with progressive government at the state level,” he said.

Ambode noted that finally, Lagos  state government and the Federal government would be of one vision, one mind and one accord.

“The ramifications of this harmonious unity are completely positive.

“This is a chance that we have worked toward for many years.

“The joint infrastructural and employment projects and collaboration between the state and the federal will quicken the improvement of our roads, schools, power generation and the entire array of social services.

“This new era of cooperation between the state and federal government promises to be a golden period for Lagos and for all Lagosians to share equally therein,” he said.

Ambode said Lagos would enjoy optimal development and growth through APC governance working in tandem at the state and federal levels.

“This cooperation and enhanced policy harmony will surely pay handsome dividends,” he said.

Ambode congratulated INEC for a job well done and keeping alive Nigeria’s hope for a brighter democracy.